OK, so who ...

[Nebulon]

.... keeps unchecking "auto arrange" for some of my directories when I'm
not looking? Another Microsoft gremlin? It seems to keep happening
(weekly, or more often) with each of three occasionally (every few
days) accessed directories that contain only subdirectories, numbering
in the 50-70 range.

These default to icon view, which is fine. What is not fine is that
turning on "auto arrange" for these only seems to "keep" for three days
plus or minus two. Isn't it supposed to be the default, everywhere? Why
are these 3 directories behaving special? (They aren't -- that is, they
aren't My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, C:\Windows,
C:\Windows\System, Program Files, the desktop, the recycle bin, or
anything else like that.)

 

[RJK]

I gave up trying to control directory views ages ago !
Even with "Remember each Folders View Settings" checked in Windows Explorer
| Tools | Folder Options and even clicking the "Apply to All Folders" etc.
....and even tweaking a parent directory properties to a certain display type
and "Apply'ing to all sub-directories" etc.
....the "View" remains unpredictable.
I've lost count of the time/s I've spent considerable time rummaging around
and tweaking Directories "View" settings !! ....they often don't hold, and
when one returns after a long time, they've changed yet again

e.g. on my 2nd hd drive J:\ I've got a root-directory called Photos, with 20
or 30 sub-directories labelled with month and date, and within each of those
LOTS of sub-directories labelled with month/date/year ...the View settings
are different every almost every time I go back there to rummage in my
photos directories !

I suspect that this little crevice in Windows was never coded properly or
comprehensively enough, and possibly there's a table somewhere that's
overspilling / hasn't got enough capacity etc.

regards, Richard

 

[Nebulon]

Interesting anecdotes.

Now will somebody who actually knows of a fix/workaround please step
forward?

 

[RJK]

....they've all tried with me, here, in the past - on this issue
....they've all run for cover !

regards, Richard

 

[Gord Dibben]

Maybe this can fix it............

You may also have to increase the number of folders for this setting.

Go to the following site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Download Tweak UI file in a folder and then double click on it to install it.

Then click on Start, All Programs. You will see Power Toys for Windows on
the list. Click on it and then Tweak UI. A window will open. Click on the +
sign to the left of Explorer to expand it and click on Customizations.
Change the number to 5000.


Gord

 

[Nebulon]

Then click on Start, All Programs. You will see Power Toys for Windows on
the list. Click on it and then Tweak UI. A window will open. Click on the +
sign to the left of Explorer to expand it and click on Customizations.
Change the number to 5000.

I did *this* months ago.

 

[Bob I]

I did *this* months ago.

Then crank it on up to 8000

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs2.htm

 

[Nebulon]

Then crank it on up to 8000

And then?

I don't suppose there's a "maximum number that won't break things or
use ludicrous amounts of memory", so I can just jump straight there, is
there?

 

[Bob I]

And then?

I don't suppose there's a "maximum number that won't break things or
use ludicrous amounts of memory", so I can just jump straight there, is
there?

No idea, but if you break it, you own both pieces. ;-)